Illuminated changeable color lawn sprinkler



March 10, 1959 w. H. scHoLL I 2,877,052

ILLUMINATED CHANGEABLE COLOR LAWN SPRINKLER Fiied April 2, 1958 INVENTOR .WAL TER u SCHOLI.

ATTORNEYS Un ed. S at Pa e 50 CHANGEABLE COLOR LAWN SPRINKLER Walter H. Scholl, Alexandria, Va.

Application April 2, 1958, Serial No. 725,849

8 Claims. (Cl. 299-4 ILLUMINATED This invention relates to a water dissipating device having both a utilitarian and a decorative function and made to illuminate such lawn sprinklers to provide a decorative efiect combined with a utilitarian function. Some of these illuminated lawn sprinklers have provided single color illumination, while others have attempted to provide changeable colors but these latter type have been relatively complex, cumbersome and costly to manufacture and also have tended to be somewhat erratic in operation. Of course, illuminated fountains have long been utilized in parks and other public places, but the present invention is concerned primarily with a relatively small portable lawn sprinkler for domestic use and one which, while sprinkling a lawn will provide highly effective and pleasing decorative etfects.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an illuminated changeable color lawn sprinkler which may be conveniently and economically manufactured from readily available materials and one which is portable to the extent that the same may be placed at any desired location and the operation of which is automatic and substantially foolproof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an illuminated changeable color lawn sprinkler in which the illumination is provided by a conventional electric lamp and in which the color of such illumination is periodically changed by the rotation of a vari-colored light filter driven by a water motor.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an illuminated changeable color lawn sprinkler in which the illumination is provided by a conventional electric lamp and in which such lamp is shielded and protected from water falling from the spray provided by the sprinkler.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an illuminated changeable color lawn sprinkler in which the illumination is projected upwardly within the cone of the water spray, rather than through a substantially solid wall of water thereby materially increasing the degree of illumination and also the height above the device at which such illumination is efiective.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an illuminated changeable color lawn sprinkler in which the color of the illumination is, automatically and periqdically changed and in which the height of such illumination above the device appears to change as the colors change.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an illuminated changeable color lawn sprinkler in which the illumination is provided by a conventional electric lamp and in which such lamp may be conveniently replaced in the event of burnout without necessitating dismantling of the device.

.. h -Qbject of'the invention is the provision of an Patented Mar. 10, 1959 illuminated changeable color lawn sprinkler in which 'the color of the light illuminating the water spray periodically changes and in which the frequency of such changes may be conveniently adjusted.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the details of construction of an illuminated changeable color lawn sprinkler constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. l and showing the hollow rotor, together with the water motor for driving same and which operates to change the color of the light illuminating the water spray;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the liiie ice Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a slightly modified form of the invention in which a rotor with additional color sections is employed; 1

Fig. 5 is an end view indicating a rotor having sections of three different colors; and

Fig. 6 is an end view similar to Fig. 5 but showinga rotor having sections of five difllerent colors.

With continued reference to the drawing, there is shown an illuminated changeable color lawn sprinkler constructed in accordance with this invention and which may well comprise a hollow circular base 10 having a sidewall 11 and a base plate 12 secured to the sidewall 11 by any suitable means, such as screw threaded fastening members 13. The base plate 12 is provided with a plurality of drain holes 14, the purpose of which will be later described. p i

The base 10 is open at the top and secured to the upper edge of the sidewall 11 is a sprinkler ring 15 of substantially conventional design, such ring having a bottom wall 16 providing an inwardly extending annular flange on the sidewall 11 and which results in partially closing the upper end of the base 10 to provide a central opening 17 therein. The ring 15 is provided with an annular water passage 18 and in the top wall 19 of the ring 15 there is providedfa plurality of sprinkler apertures 20 communicating with the passage 18 and directed outwardly to provide an inverted cone-shaped water spray. A threaded aperture 21 is provided in the sidewall of the sprinkler ring 15 communicating with the passage 18 and such aperture 21 serves to removably receive a fitting on a water supply hose or conduit 22which may be connected to any-suitable water supply.

The sidewall 11 of the base 10 is provided with an aperture 23 surrounded by an inwardly extended flange 24 and sealed in the flange 24 and secured thereto bya suitable gasket or cement 25 is a horizontally disposed transparent cup 26 which extends inwardly of the base 10 below the central opening 17 and theinner surface of the open end of the cup 26 is provided with screw threads 27 for a purpose to be presently described.

An electric socket 28 is secured in a closure plug 29 by cement 30 or other suitable material and the plug 29 is provided with a screw threaded portion 31 to be threadedly received in the threaded opening 27 of the cup 26 there being a gasket 32 disposed between a flange 33 on the plug 29 and the sidewall 11 of the base 10 in order to provide a weatherproof connection between the plug 29 and the base 10. The socket 28 serves to receive and support a' conventional electric lamp 34 in horizontal position within the cup 26. 7

An electric cable 35 is provided with conductors 36 connected to the socket 28 and with a conductor 37 connected to the plug 29 by screw threaded fastening means or the like 38, the conductor 37 being connected to a grounded prong 39 on .an electric plug which is also provided with prongs 41 connected to conductors 36. The conductors 36 serve to provide energizing current to the electric lamp 34 and the conductor 37 serves to ground the plug 29 which in turn is electrically connected through an car 42 and a screw 43 threaded into an opening 44 in the sidewall 11 of the base in order to ground the entire device and thereby eliminate shock hazard.

A-hollow rotor 45 of light transmitting material is disposed over the cup 26 and extends diametrically across the central opening 17 in the upper part of the base 10. As bestshown in ,Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the rotor 45 may comprise a plurality of arcuate sections 46 and 47 extending throughout the length thereof and an open section 48. The section 46 maybe of one color, while the section 47 is of a difierent .color and, of course, the open section 48 would serve .to-transmit lightof the same color .as the electric lamp .34.

The rotor 45 is provided with a segmental light transmitting partition 49 there being one segment :50 of the same color as the arcuate section46, a second segment 51 of the' same color as the arcuate section 47 and a third segment 52 which is clear to correspond with the .open section 48. Each segment may be integral with the corresponding arcuate section and the .segments, as well as the sections are cemented together to form the rotor 45.

A central hub 53 is secured to the segmental partition 49 and the hub 53 serves to support an outer end wall 54 and also to receive a spindle 55 which in turn is rotatably mounted in a boss 56 on the end wall 57 of the cup 26 and the opposite end of the spindle 55 is rotatably mounted in a screw 58 threadedly received in .the sidewall .11 of the base 10. Consequently, it will be seen that the rotor 45 may rotate around the cup 26.

Between the segmental partition 49 and the end wall 54 there is provided a plurality of generally triangularly shaped buckets 59, 60 and 61, the bucket 59 being formed by a wall 62 extending between the partition 49 and end wall .54 and of the :same color as the segment 51 and arcuate section 47. The remainder of the bucket 59 is formed by a wall 63 which is clear and is secured to the segment 52 as well as the end wall 54. In a similar manner, the bucket .60 is formed by a clear end wall 64 secured to the segment 52 and another end wall 65 secured to the segment .50 and .of the same color. The bucket 61 is formed by a wall 66 secured to the segment 50 and of the same color and by another wall 67 secured to the segment .51 and of the same color. The bucket 59 is provided with an opening 68, while the buckets 6t) and fi l are provided with openings 69 and 7.0 respectively.

It is to be noted, that the apex 71 .of the bucket 59 is r diametrically opposite the center .of the arcuate .section 46, while the apex 72 of the bucket 60 is diametrically opposite the .center of the arcuate section 47 and the apex 73 of the bucket .61 is diametrically opposite the center of the open section 48. In order to provide a balanced structure, there .may be provided a counterweight 74 on the segmental partition 49 opposite the open section 48 of the rotor '45.

.As best shown in Fig.2, the openings 68, 69 and 70 of the buckets 59, 60 and 61 are disposed below the bottom wall .16 of the sprinklerring and such bottom wall 16 is provided with an aperture 75 in which is disposed a wick 76 which serves to meter the flow of water through the-aperture 75 thereby determining the time required for filling each bucket on the rotor 45 with waterto'the extent necessary to causerotation of the rotor around the cup 26. In operation and with .water under pressure supplied to lthe passage 18 in the sprinkler ring 15 a spray of water willemanate fromthe apertures and at the same time, water will drip through the apertures 75 :in the bottom wall .16 of thesprinkler ring 15 until one of the buckets on the rotor45 isfilled to asufiicientextent to cause rotation of the same. Such .rotation will continue until the tilled bucket reaches the bottom position withthe apex of such bucket disposeddownwardly whereupon the arcuate section of the rotor 45 diametrically opposite to the lower bucket will be disposed below the central opening 17 in the base 10 and between the lamps 34 and such opening. Consequently, light emanating from the lamp 34 will pass through the colored section of the rotor 45 and will illuminate the water spray with a light of a corresponding color. At the same time, water is continuing to drip through the opening 75 into the next bucket on the rotor 45 and when such bucket has been filled to the extent necessary to overcome the inertia of the rotor 45, the same will rotate into the next position which will dis pose the next colored arcuate section below the central opening 17 in the base 10. The operationwi'll then be repeated to position the open section .43 below the central opening 17 which will result in the water spray being illuinitiated by a clear light. As the illumination changes color, obviously the amount of light transmitted will also change with the result that the height of the illumination will change thereby giving the appearance of a spray which moves up and down in accordance with the color changes. The water discharged from the buckets on the rotor 45 will, of course, empty into the bottom of the base 18 and drain through the apertures 14 in the base plate 12. The device will continue to operate as long as water under pressure is supplied thereto and since the only moving part is the rotor 45, there will be substantially no wear and the same will operate over long periods of time without repair or other attention. In the event electric lamp 34 burns out, the same may be conveniently replaced by merely removing the plug '29 with the socket 28 attached thereto, at which time, the lamp 34 may be r.eplaced and the plug 29 inserted in the open end of .the cup 26. The lamp v34 and all electrical connections are completely protected from water, but it is to benoted that some water may fall through the open section 48 of the rotor 45 and be deposited on the surface ofthe cup 26, but this will only serve to cool the same and'will not be harmful in any way.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is substantially the same as that above described, except-that a rotor 77 may be provided with ,four arcuate sections 78, 79, 80 and 81 of different colors and an open section 82 and as in the above described form, a counterweight 83 will be provided opposite the open section 82 to balance the rotor stmcture. As in the above described-form of the invention, a water receivingbucket for each section of the rotor will be provided and consequently the number of colors utilized for illuminating the spray may-be varied to suit the demands of the user.

it will be seen that by the above described invention, there has been provided a relatively simple, yet highly effective changeable color lawn sprinkler which may be conveniently and economically constructed and which is substantially foolproof in operation. The device ma of course, be supplied in various sizes and also with the desired number and types of colors for illuminating the spray. The operation is entirely automatic and requires no attention whatsoever'from the'user.

It will be obvious to those'skilled in the art that various changes may be made in 'the'invention'without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is 'not limited by that which is shown in the'drawing and described in the "specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An illuminated changeable color lawn 'sprinkier comprising a hollow circular baseopen;at-the-upperend, a sprinkler ring secured to the upper -end o'f-said base, the bottom wall of said ring providing an vinwardly ex tending annular fiange partially closing the upper endof said base and providinga centralopening, angnnglar water passage in said.rin g,.a plura .lity of sprinkler apertures in the top .wall .of ,said ring communicating .with said passage, :1 water inlet connection ,communicating w t d-p age, an apertu eiin:the.sidewall.-ii /s base, an inwardly extending flange surroundin said last named aperture, a horizontally disposed transparent cup extending inwardly of said base below said central openingwith the open end of said cup sealed in said last named aperture, an electric socket removably secured in the open end of said cup, an electric lamp received in said socket and disposed in said cup, a hollow rotor of light transmitting material disposed over said cup and extending diametrically across said central opening, said rotor comprising a plurality of arcuate sections extending throughout the length thereof and an open section, each arcuate section being of a different color from each other section, a segmental light transmitting partition in said rotor, the segments opposite said arcuate sections being integral therewith and of the same color as each arcuate section, the segment opposite said open section being of clear transparent material, a plurality of buckets of light transmitting material integral with said partition, there being one bucket for each arcuate section and said open section and of the same color as the associated portion of said partition, said buckets being partially covered by the arcuate sections of said rotor, a portion of said buckets disposed below the bottom wall of said ring being open, means supported on said base and the end wall of said cup for rotatably mounting said rotor, an aperture in the bottom wall of said ring for discharging water into said buckets and means in said last named aperture for metering the flow of water, whereby as each bucket fills with water said rotor will move through an arc corresponding to the angular length of each arcuate section and open section to periodically change the color of light projected upwardly through said central opening to illuminate the water spray with changeable colored light.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 in which a counterweight is provided on said partition opposite said open section to balance said rotor.

3. An illuminated changeable color lawn sprinkler comprising a hollow base open at the upper end, a sprinkler ring secured to the upper end of said base, the bottom wall of said ring providing an inwardly extending annular flange partially closing the upper end of said base and providing a central opening, an annular water passage in said ring, a plurality of sprinkler apertures in the top wall of said ring communicating with said passage, a water inlet connection communicating with said passage, an aperture in the sidewall of said base, ahorizontally disposed transparent cup extending inwardly of said base below said central opening with the open end of said cup sealed in said last named aperture, an electric socket removably secured in the open end of said cup, an electric lamp received in said socket and disposed in said cup, a hollow rotor of light transmitting material disposed over said cup and extending diametrically across said central opening, said rotor comprising a plurality of arcuate sections extending throughout the length thereof and an open section, each arcuate section being of a different color from each other section, a segmental light transmitting partition in said rotor, the segments opposite said arcuate sections being integral therewith and of the same color as each arcuate section, the segment opposite said open section being of clear transparent material, a plurality of buckets of light transmitting material integral with said partition, there being one bucket for each arcuate section and said open section and of the same color as the associated portion of said partition, said buckets being partially covered by the arcuate sections of said rotor, a portion of said buckets disposed below the bottom wall of said ring being open, means supported on said base and the end wall of said cup for rotatably mounting said rotor, an aperture in the bottom wall of said ring for discharging water into said buckets and means in said last named aperture for metering the flow of water, whereby as each bucket fills with water said rotor will move through an arc corresponding to the angular length of each arcuate section and open section to periodically change the color of light projected up wardly through said central. opening to illuminate'the water spray with changeable colored light.

4. An illuminated changeable color lawn sprinkler comprising a hollow base open at the upper end, a sprinkler ring secured to the upper end of said base, the bottom wall of said ring providing an inwardly extending an nular flange partially closing the upper end of said base and providing a central opening, an annular water passage in said ring, a plurality of sprinkler apertures in-the top wall of said ring communicating with said passage, a water inlet connection communicating with said passage, an aperture in the sidewall of said base, a horizontally disposed transparent cup extending inwardly of said base below said central opening with the open end of said cup sealed in said last named aperture, an electric socket removably secured in the open end of said cup, an electric lamp received in said socket and disposed in said cup, a hollow rotor of light transmitting material disposed over said cup and extending diametrically across said central opening, said rotor comprising a plurality of arcuate sections extending throughout the length thereof and an open section, each arcuate section being of a dilferent color from each other section, a segmental light transmitting partition in said rotor, the segments opposite said arcuate sections being integral therewith and of the same color as each arcuate section, the segment opposite said open section being of clear transparent material, a plurality of buckets of light transmitting material integral with said partition, there being one bucket for each arcuate section and said open section and of the same color as the associated portion of said partition, said buckets being disposed below the bottom wall of said ring, means supported on said base and the end wall of said cup for rotatably mounting said rotor, an aperture in the bottom wall of said ring for discharging water into said buckets and means in said last named aperture for metering the flow of water, whereby as each bucket fills with water said rotor will move through an arc corre-' sponding to the angular length of each arcuate section and open section to periodically change the color of light projected upwardly through said central opening to illuminate the water spray with changeable colored light.

5. An illuminated changeable color lawn sprinkler comprising a hollow base open at the upper end, a sprinkler ring secured to the upper end of said base, the bottom wall of said ring providing an inwardly extending annular flange partially closing the upper end of said base and providing a central opening, an annular water passage in saidring, a plurality of sprinkler apertures in the top wall of said ring communicating with said passage, a water inlet connection communicating with said passage, an aperture in the sidewall of said base, a horizontally disposed transparent cup extending inwardly of said base below said central opening with the open end of said cup sealed in said last named aperture, an electric socket removably secured in the open end of said cup, an electric lamp received in said socket and disposed in said cup, a hollow rotor of light transmitting material disposed over said cup and extending diametrically across said central opening, said rotor comprising a plurality of arcuate sections extending throughout the length thereof and an open section, each arcuate section being of a different color from each other section, a segmental light transmitting partition in said rotor, the segments opposite said arcuate sections being integral therewith and of the same color as each arcuate section, the segment opposite said open section being of clear transparent material, a plurality of buckets of light transmitting material integral with said partition, there being one bucket for each arcuate section and said open section and of the same color of said associated portion of said partition, said buckets being disposed below the bottom wall of said ring, means supported on said base and the end wall of said cup for aermea rotatah y mountin sai otor an a p rture in the bottom wall of said ring for discharging water into said buckets whereby as each bucket fills with water said rotor will move through an arc corresponding to the angular length of each arcuate section and open section to periodically change the color of light projected upwardly through said central opening to illuminate the water spray with changeable colored light.

6. An illuminated changeable color lawn sprinkler com.- prising a hollow base open at the upper end, a sprinkler ring secured to the upper end of said base, the bottom wall of said ring secured to the upper end of said base, the bottom wall of said ring providing an inwardly .extending annular flange partially .closing the upper end of said base and providing a central opening, an annular water passage in said ring, a plurality of sprinkler apertures in the top wall of said ring communicating with said passage, a water inlet connection communicating with said passage, an aperture in the sidewall of said base, a horizontally disposed transparent cup extending inward: 1y of said base below said opening with the open .end of said cup sealed in said last named aperture, an electric socket removably secured in the open end of said cnp,.an electric lamp received in said socket and disposed in said cup, a hollow rotor of light transmitting material disposed over said cup and extending diametrically across said central opening, said rotor comprising a plurality of arcuate sections extending throughout the length thereof and open section, each arcuate section being of a ditferent color from each other section, a partition in said rotor, a plurality of buckets integral with said partition, there being one :bucket for each arcuate section and said .open section, said buckets being disposed below the bottom wall of said ring, means supported on said base and the end wall of said cup for rotatably mounting said rotor and an aperture in the bottom wall of said ring for discharging water into said buckets whereby as each bucket fills with water said rotor will move through an arc corresponding to the angular length of each arcuate section and open section to periodically change the color of light projected upwardly through said central opening to illuminate the water spray with changeable colored light.

7. An illuminated changeable color lawn sprinkler comprising a hollow base open at the upper end, a sprinkler ring secured to the upper end of said base and providing a central opening, an annular Water passage in said ring, a plurality of sprinkler apertures in the top wall of said ring communicating with said passage, 21 water inlet connection communicating with said passage, an aperture in the sidewall of said base, a horizontally disposed transparent cup extending inwardly of said base below said central opening with the open end of said cup sealed in the said a t amed ap rtu e, an electr c socket r movahly secured in the open end of said cup, an electric lamp received in said socket and disposed in said cup, a hollow rotor of light transmitting material disposed over said cup and extending diametrically across said central opening, said rotor comprising a plurality of arcuate sections extending throughout the length thereof and an .open section, veach .arcuate section being of a different color from each other section, a partition in said rotor, a plurality of buckets integral with said partition, there being one bucket for each arcuate section and said open section, said buckets being disposed below the bottom wall of said ring, means supported on said base and the end wall of said cup for rotatably mounting said rotor and an aperture in the bottom wall of said ring for discharging water into said buckets, whereby as each bucket fills with water said rotor will move through an arc corresponding to the angular length of each ,arcuate section and open section to periodically change the color of light projected upwardly through said central opening to illuminate the water spray with changeable colored light.

8. An illuminated changeable color lawn sprinkler comprising a hollow base open at the upper end, a sprinkler ring secured to the upper end of said base and providing a central opening, an annular water passage in said ring, a plurality of sprinkler apertures in the top wall of said ring communicating with said passage, a water inlet connection communicating with said passage, an aperture in the sidewall of said base, a horizontally disposed transparent cup extending inwardly of said base below said central opening with the open end of said cup mounted in the said last named aperture, an electric socket removably secured in the open end of said cup, an electric lamp received in said socket and disposed in said cup, a hollow rotor of light transmitting material disposed over said cup and extending across said central opening, said rotor comprising a plurality of sections extending throughout the length thereof and an open section, each section being of a different color from each other section, a partion in said rotor, a plurality of buckets on said partition, there being one bucket for each section, said buckets being disposed below the bottom wall of said ring, means supported on said base and the end wall of said cup for rotatably mounting said rotor and an aperture in the bottom wall of said ring for discharging water into said buckets, whereby as each bucket fills with water said rotor will move through an arc corresponding to the angular length of each section and to periodically change the color of light projected upwardly through said central opening to illuminate the water spray with changeable colored light.

No references cited. 

